Utah sees Game 1 as lesson learned

SALT LAKE CITY —The Utah Jazz’s 106-91 loss to the Spurs in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series was certainly a humbling experience.

But the youthful Jazz — their entire roster has played in fewer postseason games than Tony Parker and Tim Duncan combined — say they hope the lessons gleaned will make for a more competitive contest in Game 2 tonight.

Primarily, Utah saw how San Antonio played with confidence and poise and would love to emulate those characteristics. And although the Jazz won their final five games of the regular season and seven of their last nine to clinch the Western Conference’s final playoff berth, they learned that the playoffs are a whole new ballgame.

“I thought we were in a good place at the end of the regular season, with both myself and the players, but this is a different scenario,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “… The guys are more intense. You watch how on both ends of the floor how aggressive and relaxed they are while we seemed to be lugging our way.”

Experience had everything to do with the difference between the two teams, Corbin added.

“I thought it was because it was the first time (in the playoffs for this Jazz team), and we didn’t really know what to expect,” said Corbin, who made his playoff debut as a head coach in Game 1. “I expect us to be better (in Game 2) because we’ve been through this situation on Sunday.”

The Jazz plan on being better by playing more physically with the Spurs. They also have to improve their offensive efficiency after shooting 42 percent, committing 16 turnovers and dishing just 12 assists in Game 1. They say they left too many points on the scoreboard in what was an up-tempo game.

“Every time on film, when we made mistakes or turned the ball over or rushed shots, whatever it was, it cost us,” Utah center Al Jefferson said. “San Antonio is a team that will make you pay for your mistakes. They always do. We noticed when we did everything the right way, to the best of our abilities, we was in good shape.”

Josh Howard will again start for Utah, replacing DeMarre Carroll, who started along with Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Gordon Hayward and Devin Harris when the Jazz went 7-2 to close the season.

Howard, who missed 19 games late in the regular season because of a left knee injury, got the starting nod in Game 1 because of his experience, but he went scoreless in 16 minutes.

Howard was a key player for the Dallas Mavericks when they defeated the Spurs 4-3 in a Western Conference semifinal series in 2006.

The Jazz also expect to get a bigger boost from their big lineup. Utah’s opponents had a difficult time matching up when the team’s frontcourt consisted of Jefferson at center, Millsap at small forward and Derrick Favors late in the season. San Antonio, however, mostly neutralized that lineup because of how well it spaces the floor and its ability to knock down 3-pointers.

“We will use it,” Corbin said of the Jazz’s big lineup. “We have to use it in the right spots.”